All-Irela nd footba ll fina l heartbreak for under-14 girls

U-14 ALL-IRELAND FINAL

Kildare 3-10 Kerry 2-9

KERRY’S All-Ireland odyssey and bid for ultimate glory came unstuck at the final hurdle as the county’s under-14 girls team lost out narrowly to Kildare in a highly competitive and entertaining All-Ireland Final in Nenagh last Saturday.

Kerry had beaten Cork, Tipperary and Galway on their way to this final, with Kildare seeing off Meath, Dublin and reigning champions Cavan en route, and the tight contest that was anticipated certainly came to pass.

Playing with the strong breeze in the first half Kerry had early points from Danielle O’Leary and Ava O’Sullivan (2) as Siofra O’Shea and Mary O’Connell enjoyed early dominance at midfield. Kerry’s pressure was finally rewarded with a goal from O’Sullivan, as Kerry took a 1-4 to 0-0 lead after the first quarter.

An injury and substitution saw Kildare reshuffle their pack and they came alive in the second quarter. Two quick points got the Leinster girls off the mark. Orlaith Sullivan’s long range effort deceived Ciara Butler in the Kerry goal and dipped under the crossbar. A second Kildare goal arrived when Ruth Birchall punch the ball to the Kerry net as the Lilywhites led 2-5 to 1-5 at the break.

The second half was a very tight contest with defence on top in the early stages. After an early exchange of points, Birchall and then Aoife Rattigan opened up a five-point Kildare lead.

Kerry responded with a goal from O’Shea and when O’Leary pointed Kildare’s lead was back to one. More trouble arrived for Kerry when Sally Murphy placed in Katie O’Loughlin for a goal. Kerry made some changes in personnel before O’Shea clipped the crossbar for a point. Rattigan was sin-binned for Kildare, giving Kerry more space and hope, as both sides created goal chances only to be denied by the respective goalkeepers.

Ella Teahan pointed for Kerry as the Munster girls pressed forward relentlessly to find the scores but the Kildare defence stood firm and Kerry’s All-Ireland dream ended with a courageous defeat after a heroic display and very commendable run to the final. KERRY: Ciara Butler (Castlegregory), Tara Murphy (Killarney Legion), Rachel O’Connor (Corcha Dhuibhne), Chloe O’Connor (Firies), Ciara McCarthy (Abbeydorney), Maud Kelly (Fossa), Ava Doherty (Glenflesk), Mary O’Connell (Na Gaeil), Siofra O’Shea (1-3) (Southern Gaels), Rachel Kilgallen (John Mitchels), Ella Teahan (0-1) (Miltown/Listry), Danielle O’Leary (0-2) (Rathmore), Rachel Dwyer (Southern Gaels), Mary Collins (Rathmore), Ava O’Sullivan (1-3) (Southern Gaels). Subs: Gemma Kearney for C O’Connor, Aisling O’Connell for C McCarthy, Aoife Dillane for M Collins, Andrea Nolan for A Doherty. SUBS not used: Susan Cahill (Rathmore), Maggie Kingston (Beaufort), Cliona Murphy (Southern Gaels), Abi Casey (Na Gaeil), Elaine O’Donoghue (Firies), Rachel Evans (Laune Rangers), Sarah Sheehan (Fossa), Fodhla Houlihan (Laune Rangers), Clodagh Evans (Miltown/Listry), Ruth Moriarty (John Mitchels), Ciara OMahoney (Milltown/Listry)

Mary O’Connell after Kerry were beaten in the All-Ireland Ladies Football U-14 ‘A’ Championship Final at McDonagh Park in Nenagh